| The Most Reverend Anthony Joseph O'Connell |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Palm Beach | |
| Province | Louisville |
| Diocese | Palm Beach |
| Enthroned | January 14, 1999 |
| Reign ended | March 13, 2002 |
| Predecessor | Joseph Keith Symons |
| Successor | Seán Patrick O'Malley |
| Other posts | Bishop of Knoxville |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | March 30, 1963 (Priest) |
| Consecration | September 8, 1988 (Bishop) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 10, 1938 Lisheen, County Clare, Ireland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
Anthony J. O'Connell (born May 10, 1938) is a Roman Catholic clergyman who was the first Bishop of Knoxville in Tennessee, followed by service as the third Bishop of Palm Beach in Florida.[1][2][3]
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O'Connell was born in Lisheen, County Clare, Ireland[1] and studied at Mount St. Joseph College in Cork and at Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland. Emigrating to the United States at age 20, he entered Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.
On March 30, 1963, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri.[1][2][3]
Following ordination, he was assigned as Director of Students at St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary in Hannibal, Missouri. He was named Spiritual Director in 1968 and was appointed Rector in 1970.
O'Connell served as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Jefferson City from 1969 to 1988. He was a member of the Diocesan Commission for Personnel and President of the Priests' Senate.
He was serving as Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary when he was appointed first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Knoxville on June 7, 1988.[1][2]
On September 8, 1988, O'Connell was consecrated and installed as the first bishop of Knoxville. Archbishop Pio Laghi (later a Cardinal) served as Principal Consecrator with Bishop James Niedergeses and Bishop Michael McAuliffe serving as principal co-consecrators.[1]
On November 12, 1998, O'Connell was appointed the third Bishop of Palm Beach.[1][3]
Bishop O'Connell admitted in 2002 that he had molested at least two students of St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary during his 25-year career there.[4]
Stephen Spalding (1953–1982) was the first known O’Connell victim, and became one of three known victims from the graduating class of 1971. Stephen’s mother reported the crime to the Diocese of Jefferson City in 1968. The Jefferson City diocesan priest Fr. Christopher Dixon, an alumnus and faculty member of St. Thomas, exposed O’Connell’s crimes in 2002.
Likewise, Matthew Cosby, Michael Wegs, and two former students identified in media reports as "John C. C. Doe" and "Alexander" have stepped forward to disclose O'Connell's actions against students in his charge.[5][6]
The extent of O'Connell's transgressions in one student's case was documented by Time magazine.[7]
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, O'Connell induced another St. Thomas alumnus, Father Brian Driscoll, to obstruct justice by playing the role of bagman in an attempt to quiet further disclosure of allegations of sexual molestation.[8][9][10]
He offered his resignation as Bishop of Palm Beach on March 8, 2002 and his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II on March 13, 2002.[1][3]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Inaugural appointment |
Bishop of Knoxville 1988–1998 |
Succeeded by Joseph Edward Kurtz |
| Preceded by Joseph Keith Symons |
Bishop of Palm Beach 1999–2002 |
Succeeded by Seán Patrick O'Malley |